(Debates, 1st to 17th June 1789 (in Histoire
Parlementaire, i. 422-478).)

And so the Commons Deputies are at last on their own strength getting
under way? Instead of Chairman, or Dean, they have now got a President:
Astronomer Bailly. Under way, with a vengeance! With endless vociferous
and temperate eloquence, borne on Newspaper wings to all lands, they
have now, on this 17th day of June, determined that their name is
not Third Estate, but--National Assembly! They, then, are the Nation?
Triumvirate of Princes, Queen, refractory Noblesse and Clergy, what,
then, are you? A most deep question;--scarcely answerable in living
political dialects.

All regardless of which, our new National Assembly proceeds to appoint
a 'committee of subsistences;' dear to France, though it can find little
or no grain. Next, as if our National Assembly stood quite firm on its
legs,--to appoint 'four other standing committees;' then to settle the
security of the National Debt; then that of the Annual Taxation: all
within eight-and-forty hours. At such rate of velocity it is going: the
conjurors of the Oeil-de-Boeuf may well ask themselves, Whither?

Chapter 1.5.II.

Mercury de Breze.

Now surely were the time for a 'god from the machine;' there is a nodus
worthy of one. The only question is, Which god? Shall it be Mars de
Broglie, with his hundred pieces of cannon?--Not yet, answers prudence;
so soft, irresolute is King Louis. Let it be Messenger Mercury, our
Supreme Usher de Breze.

On the morrow, which is the 20th of June, these Hundred and Forty-nine
false Curates, no longer restrainable by his Grace of Paris, will desert
in a body: let De Breze intervene, and produce--closed doors! Not only
shall there be Royal Session, in that Salle des Menus; but no meeting,
nor working (except by carpenters), till then. Your Third Estate,
self-styled 'National Assembly,' shall suddenly see itself extruded
from its Hall, by carpenters, in this dexterous way; and reduced to do
nothing, not even to meet, or articulately lament,--till Majesty, with
Seance Royale and new miracles, be ready! In this manner shall De Breze,
as Mercury ex machina, intervene; and, if the Oeil-de-Boeuf mistake not,
work deliverance from the nodus.

Of poor De Breze we can remark that he has yet prospered in none of his
dealings with these Commons. Five weeks ago, when they kissed the hand
of Majesty, the mode he took got nothing but censure; and then his
'sincere att